Schools should focus more on academic activities

When it comes to academic activities, Raiders aren’t 63-7. Approximately 15 students, give or take a few at different meets, participate in UIL academic activities. There are events in which no students are representing.  Students who do participate in UIL events are left in the dark, with hardly any recognition for their hard work and efforts.

From Computer Science to Prose Interpretation UIL gives opportunities for students to compete in areas that are their fortes or that they find interest in.  Students who participate start preparing for UIL meets, practice rounds for district, at the beginning of each school year to be ready to compete in late winter early spring.

This is wrong and this should be fixed. Participating in academic UIL should be one of the school’s and student’s priorities. Not only because it creates academic recognition for college resumes, but also to bring pride to Raider Nation in something other than sports. 

When questioning why the students who do wake up at 5 a.m. to go to UIL don’t bring back the gold, the school system should first see it beneficial to actually create UIL classes, like our friends across town have. Without available UIL classes, students are left to use their own time outside of school to meet with coaches or study to get ready to compete. If there were UIL classes during the school day, those students could practice during class with aid from other students participating in the same event.

On the other hand, people argue that if there were a UIL, class students would not take it nor would there be teachers who would want to teach those classes. This is understandable because it is true that a very small percentage of the attending student know about UIL events.

The school should offer elective courses for UIL events offered for those students who wish to participate in UIL events. With these classes, participating alumni would be better prepared to compete against magnet schools and schools who already have UIL classes during their regular eight hour school day.

Students who participate in UIL events or students who wish to participate but don’t have the time to adequately prepare should talk to UIL advisors to raise awareness to this issue. Academic advisors are Mrs. Thedford, Ms. Taylor, Mr. Pruitt, Mrs. Nechamkin, Mr. Stevens and Mrs. Black.